diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b5bdc66..afa53a5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ version with its date and start a fresh empty `[Unreleased]` above it.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Qoderian tabs no longer keep Obsidian's renderer busy while idle. The
+  context row above the composer re-checked its chip layout on every display
+  frame for as long as Obsidian was visible, once per open tab, and each frame
+  did more work when a note was attached. The row now re-measures only when
+  its chips or width change.
+
 ## [1.0.7] - 2026-09-02
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.ts b/src/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.ts
index 77f1382..55ad10d 100644
--- a/src/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.ts
+++ b/src/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export class ContextRowOverflowController {
   private readonly measureEl: HTMLElement;
   private readonly resizeObserver: ResizeObserver;
   private readonly mutationObserver: MutationObserver;
-  private layoutScheduled = false;
+  private layoutFrame: number | null = null;
   private expanded = false;
   private destroyed = false;
 
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ export class ContextRowOverflowController {
 
   destroy(): void {
     this.destroyed = true;
+    if (this.layoutFrame !== null) {
+      window.cancelAnimationFrame(this.layoutFrame);
+      this.layoutFrame = null;
+    }
     this.resizeObserver.disconnect();
     this.mutationObserver.disconnect();
     this.pillEl.remove();
@@ -60,14 +64,26 @@ export class ContextRowOverflowController {
   }
 
   private scheduleLayout(): void {
-    if (this.layoutScheduled) return;
-    this.layoutScheduled = true;
-    window.requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-      this.layoutScheduled = false;
+    if (this.layoutFrame !== null) return;
+    this.layoutFrame = window.requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      this.layoutFrame = null;
       if (!this.destroyed) this.layout();
     });
   }
 
+  private layout(): void {
+    this.applyLayout();
+    // Obsidian's class helpers rewrite the class attribute even when the class
+    // does not change, and the observer above reports every such write, so
+    // applyState checks each class before writing it. Records still queued
+    // here describe DOM this pass has already read; dropping them saves a
+    // second clone-and-measure pass a frame after every real change, so the
+    // row settles in one frame. Either the class checks or this call alone
+    // stops layout rescheduling itself on every frame, and the regression
+    // tests cover only the two together.
+    this.mutationObserver.takeRecords();
+  }
+
   /** Content items are row children that are currently meant to be visible. */
   private contentItems(): HTMLElement[] {
     return Array.from(this.rowEl.children).filter(
@@ -76,7 +92,7 @@ export class ContextRowOverflowController {
     );
   }
 
-  private layout(): void {
+  private applyLayout(): void {
     const items = this.contentItems();
 
     if (items.length === 0 || !this.rowEl.hasClass('has-content')) {
@@ -174,7 +190,9 @@ export class ContextRowOverflowController {
       }
     });
 
-    this.rowEl.toggleClass('qoderian-context-row--expanded', this.expanded);
+    if (this.expanded !== this.rowEl.hasClass('qoderian-context-row--expanded')) {
+      this.rowEl.toggleClass('qoderian-context-row--expanded', this.expanded);
+    }
 
     const hiddenCount = items.length - (this.expanded ? items.length : visibleCount);
     const showPill = this.expanded || hiddenCount > 0;
diff --git a/tests/unit/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.test.ts b/tests/unit/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.test.ts
index f669bce..27cf46e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/features/chat/controllers/context-row-overflow.test.ts
@@ -46,8 +46,13 @@ function installDomMocks(): void {
     };
   }
   if (!proto.toggleClass) {
+    // Mirrors Obsidian: toggleClass always calls classList.add or remove, which
+    // rewrites the class attribute and queues a MutationObserver record even
+    // when nothing changes. classList.toggle(cls, force) skips that write and
+    // would hide an observer that keeps re-triggering itself.
     proto.toggleClass = function toggleClass(this: HTMLElement, cls: string, force: boolean) {
-      this.classList.toggle(cls, force);
+      if (force) this.classList.add(cls);
+      else this.classList.remove(cls);
       return this;
     };
   }
@@ -370,4 +375,53 @@ describe('ContextRowOverflowController', () => {
 
     controller.destroy();
   });
+
+  it('stops scheduling layout frames once a blank row settles', async () => {
+    // A new tab starts with nothing attached, so its row has no content.
+    const row = createRow();
+    row.removeClass('has-content');
+
+    const controller = new ContextRowOverflowController(row);
+    await settle();
+
+    const requestFrame = jest.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame');
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+    expect(requestFrame).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    requestFrame.mockRestore();
+    controller.destroy();
+  });
+
+  it('stops scheduling layout frames once a collapsed row settles', async () => {
+    const row = createRow();
+    [createChip(100), createChip(100), createChip(100)].forEach(chip => row.appendChild(chip));
+    rowClientWidth = 200;
+
+    const controller = new ContextRowOverflowController(row);
+    await settle();
+    const pill = row.querySelector('.qoderian-context-overflow-pill') as HTMLElement;
+    expect(pill.hasClass('qoderian-hidden')).toBe(false);
+
+    const requestFrame = jest.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame');
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+    expect(requestFrame).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    requestFrame.mockRestore();
+    controller.destroy();
+  });
+
+  it('cancels its pending layout frame on destroy', () => {
+    const row = createRow();
+    const requestFrame = jest.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame');
+    const cancelFrame = jest.spyOn(window, 'cancelAnimationFrame');
+
+    const controller = new ContextRowOverflowController(row);
+    const pendingFrame = requestFrame.mock.results[0]?.value as number;
+    controller.destroy();
+
+    expect(cancelFrame).toHaveBeenCalledWith(pendingFrame);
+
+    requestFrame.mockRestore();
+    cancelFrame.mockRestore();
+  });
 });